Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context
This competency unit includes the use of equipment and materials to construct plugs/patterns from which composite moulds will be made. It includes the operation of all relevant additional equipment where that equipment is integral to the plug making process.
Procedures
All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.
Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.
Tools and equipment
This competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:
hand tools and power tools for use with composite and other materials (eg sheet metal and timber)
hand mixing equipment and stirrers
hand application tools (eg rollers, trowels, brushes, filleting tools)
finishing materials (eg gelcoat and acrylic finishes, paints)
construction materials (eg timber, styrofoam, and fibreglass)
relevant personal protective equipment.
Hazards
Typical hazards include:
spills
slip and fall
hand and power tools
temperature
toxic fumes/vapours (such as styrene in resins)
hazardous materials (such flammable materials)
manual handling hazards
equipment operations.
Problems
'Anticipate and solve problems' means resolve a wide range of routine and non-routine problems, using product and process knowledge to develop solutions to problems which do not have a known solution/a solution recorded in the procedures.
Typical routine faults may include:
gel coat sag
slow curing rates
blistering
wrinkles
pinholes
brush marks
poor surface finish.
Non-routine faults, which may have multiple causes may include:
release agents failure
mould release failure
warping or cracking after moulding.
Typical process and product problems may include:
structural strength, rigidity and stability of the tooling
dimensional accuracy of the tooling
allowances in the design for shrinkage, deformations and alterations in the process from tooling to mould to finished composite product
placement of flanges, closures, fitments, supports, struts and stiffeners
variations in materials and/or contamination of materials.
Appropriate action for problems outside of area of responsibility may be reporting to an appropriate person.
Appropriate action for solving problems within area of responsibility includes asking questions and seeking assistance from appropriate persons/sources.
Variables
Key variables to be monitored include:
differences between actual and set temperatures
colour and uniformity
surface finish/appearance
times (including curing rates)
product weight and output rate
product integrity and general conformance to specification and quality sample.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this training package.
Overview of assessment
A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.
Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge.
Where the assessee does not currently possess evidence of competency inPMBPROD247B Hand lay up composites and MEM9.2B Interpret technical drawing, it may be co-assessed with this unit.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:
identify critical materials properties and pattern/plug production process variables in relation to the process requirements and the end product
make adjustments to the process as required
identify and take appropriate action on problems and potential problems.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:
the process runs consistently and smoothly, with the minimum need for human intervention
all safety procedures are always followed.
Assessment method and context
Assessment will occur on industrial pattern/plug production equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
using appropriate, industrial pattern/plug production equipment
in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to recognise, anticipate and respond to problems
by using a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios
through a combination of these techniques.
In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practical/simulation or similar assessment. Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Specific resources for assessment
This section should be read in conjunction with the Range Statement for this unit of competency. Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation. A bank of case studies/scenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method. Questioning may take place either in the workplace, or in an adjacent, quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom. No other special resources are required.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.